A spokeswoman for the Foreign Office told Daily Star Online: “The projects we carry out in North Korea are part of our policy of critical engagement, and are used to promote British values and demonstrate to the North Korean people that engaging with the UK and the outside world is an opportunity rather than a threat.

“No money goes to the North Korean administration. We conduct a range of small-scale project work, many of which help to improve the lives of the most vulnerable members of society.”